Welcome to Senior Parent Night

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Welcome to Senior Parent Night

• Sponsored by
• Green Hope High School
• Student Services

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Student Services Staff

• Sarah Knowles-Welsh, Dean of Students
• Anne Miller, Counselor A-D
• Jodi Seidel, Counselor E-K
• Shernita Telfair, Counselor L-R
• Allison Tibbetts, Counselor S-Z
• Brittina Creecy, SAP Counselor
• Jane George, Receptionist
• Cathy Dillon, Registrar
• The powerpoint presentation will be available on
  the student services Web site

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Program Overview

• Briefly review Graduation Requirements
• Provide information about senior conferences
• Provide resources and a guideline to assist with
  college planning and the application process
• Provide information on post-secondary options

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Graduation Requirements
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Graduation Requirements
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Graduation Requirements
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NC Academic Scholars
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Senior Conferences

• Senior Conferences will run from September 12-22
• Sessions will be in small groups conducted by
  your counselor to discuss senior year.
• Students will receive Senior Handbooks.
• Review their transcripts.
• Students should bring the following completed
  items to their meeting.
• Senior survey
• Teacher comments
• Parent Survey
• Completed resume

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Transcript Request

• The policy of WCPSS is that all official
  transcripts be mailed directly from the high
  school to the college or university for which you
  are applying. We will give you sealed copies to
  be included in scholarship applications.

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Electronic Transcripts

• Docufide offers secure transcript online
• Logon to secure transcript at www.docufide.com
• Set up account- youll need an email address
• Select destinations
• Pay online- 5 per transcript sent
• Track delivery-email notification when delivered
  electronically
• Some schools dont accept electronic transcripts

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NCAA Clearinghouse Student Athletes

• The clearinghouse certifies your
• eligibility to compete as a student
• athlete, but your college must accept you as a
  student.
• The clearinghouse evaluates your academic record
  to determine if you are eligible to participate
  at a Division I or II college as a freshmen.
• You can review the eligibility requirements and
  register at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net.

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TESTS

• SAT I Reasoning Test
• Measures the skills students need for academic
  success in college in three areas Critical
  Reading, Math, Writing
• Score Scale 800 on each section 2400 total
• Average score is 500 on each section
• The College Board reports that 55 of juniors
  improve their scores as seniors 35 decrease
  10 no change
• Register online at collegeboard.com
• Prepare for the SAT sign up for SAT prep
  classes, utilize free practice Web sites (such as
  collegeboard.com ), and resource books

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TESTS

• ACT Assessment
• Curriculum-based test designed to measure
  students college readiness and academic
  achievement in four skill areas English, Math,
  Reading, Science
• The writing test is optional but required for
  admission to UNC system schools
• Score Scale is 1-36 on each section 1-36
  composite
• Register and prepare online at act.org

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And more TESTS

• SAT II Subject Tests
• Required by some selective colleges for admission
  and/or for placement purposes once a student
  enrolls
• Check college Web sites to determine requirements
• Students can take up to 3 subject tests on one
  test date
• Recommend taking Subject Tests near the end of a
  course when the information is still fresh in
  their mind
• Register at collegeboard.com
• AP Exams
• Taken in May by students enrolled in Advanced
  Placement courses and used by colleges for credit
  or placement
• ASVAB
• Aptitude test offered by the Armed Services

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The College Search

• REMEMBER you are seeking a college where the
  goals and personality of the student are well
  matched with those of the college. Consider what
  is important to you cost, location, size,
  residential life, major, etc
• EVALUATE EXPLORE interests, majors, and careers
  by taking interest inventories and assessments
  (CFNC.org and princetonreview.com )
• LIST abilities, preferences, personal qualities,
  and potential college majors
• RESEARCH COLLEGES by searching college Web
  sites, CFNC.org , collegeboard.com ,and college
  guidebooks available in student services

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The College Search cont

• ATTEND local college fairs and meet
• with college representatives when they
• visit your school (listen to announcements
  for dates)
• VISIT colleges and take college tours when they
  are in session to get a feel for the campus and
  regular activity.
• TALK to friends, family, teachers, and recent
  grads about their careers college experiences
• DEVELOP a list of colleges using the College
  Comparison Worksheet found in the Senior Planning
  Guide
• REVIEW admission requirements and application
  deadlines for potential colleges

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The College Search cont

• FINALIZE your college list early in the senior
  year. Consider the following guide
• One or two safety colleges colleges to which
  they will almost certainly be admitted
• Some realistic or probable colleges where
  their GPA, test scores, and other features look
  very similar to those of recent entering classes
• A reach (or two) colleges where they meet the
  criteria for admission but may not have the
  stellar qualifications of most first year
  students

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College Admission Options

• Early Action-is an admissions procedure to notify
  student of early admissions to the college.
  Students are not obligated to accept the
  colleges offer of admission and may file
  applications at other universities.
• Early Decision-is a plan under which candidates
  may submit credentials early to one college,
  usually by Oct. 15th of senior year. Applicants
  are notified of their status by December. As part
  of the early decision plan, students may be
  required to sign an agreement to withdraw other
  applicants if accepted.

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College Admissions Options cont..

• Regular admission-is the plan under which
  candidates submit credentials during November to
  February, depending on school deadlines. Check
  the deadlines for each individual school.
• Rolling admission-is the plan under which
  candidates submit the credentials at their
  convenience through a certain date, usually late
  in the year. They receive an offer of acceptance
  or denial within four to six weeks.
• Onsite admission-is an admissions option in which
  colleges visit students at the high school and
  make an admissions determination during a
  scheduled appointment with the student.
• East Carolina University is planning onsite
  admissions this year they will require electronic
  application.

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What are colleges looking for?

• Academic Achievement (GPA)
• SAT/ACT scores
• Rigor of classes
• Class rank
• Extracurricular Activities
• Community Service
• Essay
• Recommendation Letter(s)

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Resume

• Create or update
• your resume including
• a record of your accomplishments, activities,
  and work experiences from high school.
• Choose a format that best highlights your
  experience, education, and interests (sample
  template available in Senior Planning Guide)
• Add your summer employment, volunteer work, job
  shadowing and internships, college applications,
  and scholarship applications to your resume
• Your school counselor may use your resume to
  write recommendations
• To create an online resume, visit CFNC.org and
  click on the Student Planner.

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Counselor Statements

• Some colleges or universities will want a
  counselor statement along with your transcript.
• Fill out the release of records form to request a
  transcript (unless you use the online docufide
  form) and submit the counselor statement.
• Make sure to complete all the forms sent to you
  in the mail for your senior conference.
• This information provides your counselor with
  what they need to provide you a good
  recommendation.
• Please be mindful of time constraints when
  requesting counselor statement and letter of
  recommendations.
• Allow at least two weeks prior to any deadline
  you are trying to meet.

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Teacher Recommendations

• Pick your teacher recommenders wisely. Its
  important that your teacher knows you personally.
  
• Promptly send a thank-you note to each person who
  gives you a recommendation.
• In general, teachers are the best source for
  academic recommendations since they see you
  everyday in the classroom setting.
• Students should choose recommenders from
  different subject areas to provide a more
  well-rounded view.
• The students should provide a resume and
  envelope (stamped if mailed directly) to the
  recommender.
• Recommendations will be sealed by the recommender
  and remain confidential. Additional copies of
  recommendations can be made by the recommender.

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Financial Aid-Grants, Loans Work-Study

• The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student
  Aid) is the form that is needed to apply for aid
  in the form of grants or loans. You can obtain a
  FAFSA application at www.fafsa.edu.gov.
• The CSS/Financial Aid Profile establishes
• eligibility for institutional aid. The
• application is available at www.collegeboard.co
  m.
• A Financial Aid Counselor will be available for
  appointments beginning in October to assist with
  the process.

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Scholarships/Financial Aid

• Scholarship information can be obtained from
  several sources.
• www.scholarshipplus.com and www.collegeboard.com
• http//greenhopehigh.wcpss.net and go to the
  Student Services link, there you will find the
  Scholarship newsletter which will be updated
  monthly. Please pay attention to internal
  deadlines (those set by school for processing.)
• Also each college/university have scholarships
  available to students entering for first time.
• Utilize your search engines on your computers and
  find all available aid possible.
• www.cfnc.org also has scholarships that may be
  helpful. Resources also include a financial
  literacy course and financial aid estimator.

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Post-Secondary Options

• Community colleges offer a vast array of
  Associate Degree and Certificate programs
• For students that may not have the grades right
  away or want to save money, community colleges
  offer College Transfer programs wherein you can
  transfer to a 4 year university within 2 years.
• What about the Military? Get in touch with a
  recruiter and sign up to take the ASVAB.
• Maybe its right to work! Contact Donna Donovan,
  Career Development Coordinator , for more
  information

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Workshop Opportunity

• How to write a good college essay and
  soliciting letters of recommendations.
• Presented by Dave Meredith, UNC Chapel Hill
  Senior Admission Officer
• September 30, 2008 from 630-730 pm
• Sign up in Student Services as soon as possible!

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College Visits
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Please stay for a brief PTSA
Announcement..Thank you for attending!